St. Monica Archives - The Catholic Crusade

Chaplet of St. Monica

The Chaplet of St. Monica is a devotion imploring the prayers of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, whose seventeen years of prayers and petitioning led to conversion of her son, who ultimately became a saint in the Church. This chaplet is especially intended for parents and loved ones who are praying for the conversion of sons and daughters (or anyone else recommended who is in need of conversion).

Chaplet of St. Monica

For the Conversion of Sons and Daughters

O holy St. Monica, by your burning tears and unceasing prayers, you did save your son from eternal damnation. Obtain for us the grace to comprehend what is most conductive to the salvation of our children, so that we may effectively restrain them from the way of sin and lead them by that of virtue and piety to heaven. Amen.

Pray the Our Father (1 time)

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

St. Monica, we join our tears to yours against the spirit of despair and toward the spirit of hope. Pray for us in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray the Hail Mary (4 times)

St. Monica, we join our tears to yours against the spirit of anger and toward the spirit of love. Pray for us in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray the Hail Mary (4 times)

St. Monica, we join our tears to yours against the spirit of blame and toward the spirit of forgiveness. Pray for us in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray the Hail Mary (4 times)

St. Monica, we join our tears to yours against the spirit of suspicion and toward the spirit of trust. Pray for us in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray the Hail Mary (4 times)

St. Monica, we join our tears to yours against the spirit of doubt and toward the spirit of faith. Pray for us in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray the Hail Mary (4 times)

St. Monica, we join our tears to yours against the spirit of fear and toward the spirit of peace. Pray for us in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray the Hail Mary (4 times)

Let us pray:

St. Monica, exemplary mother of the great St. Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son, not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all parents in our day so that we may learn to draw our children to God. Teach us how to remain close to our children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.

O great St. Augustine, take our children under your protection. To our efforts on their behalf, join your intercession for them with God. Exert all your influence, and with the compassion of your loving heart, intercede for them with the Most Holy Trinity. Permit not that our children, sanctified in the waters of baptism, should through mortal sin be banished from the presence of God and suffer eternal punishment.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us and our children.

Lord, graciously hear us. Amen.

Chaplet of St. Monica

Novena to St. Monica

The Novena to St. Monica is a 9-day prayer devotion for the conversion of loved ones and friends who have strayed from the faith. It is prayed through the intercession of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, whose years of persevering prayer led to her son’s conversion — and his rise to become one of the great Doctors of the Church.

St. Monica is the patron of mothers, wives, and wayward children, and her story offers hope to anyone praying for a loved one’s return to God. Pray this novena for nine consecutive days, entrusting your petitions to her, and trusting — as she did — in God’s perfect timing.

Novena to St. Monica

Click for video — or scroll down

O God, who didst console Thy servant Monica in her tears and didst turn her sorrow into joy through the conversion of her son, Augustine, we come before Thee, trusting in her powerful example of persevering prayer.

St. Monica, faithful wife and devoted mother, for years you wept and prayed for the conversion of those you loved, never losing hope even when every sign pointed to despair. You turned to God alone in your affliction, and He heard you in His time. Teach me that same patient trust.

Obtain for me the grace to keep praying for those I love who have wandered from the faith, and the strength to wait on God’s timing without growing weary or bitter.

Above all, obtain for me the particular intention I bring before you this day: (mention your intentions now).

St. Monica, you showed that no soul is beyond the reach of a mother’s prayer and God’s mercy. Pray for me that I may love as steadfastly as you loved, and trust as unshakably as you trusted, now and at the hour of my death. Amen.

Novena to St. Monica

St. Monica

About St. Monica

St. Monica, a 4th-century Christian woman from North Africa, is remembered for her extraordinary patience and persistence in prayer, particularly for her wayward son who would later become St. Augustine of Hippo. Born in Tagaste (modern-day Algeria) to Christian parents, she was married to a pagan Roman official named Patricius, whose volatile temper and infidelities she endured with remarkable grace. Through her gentle example and constant prayers, she eventually won both her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity. However, her greatest concern was for her brilliant but rebellious son Augustine, who lived a hedonistic lifestyle that deeply troubled her. She followed him from Africa to Rome and then to Milan, praying and fasting for his conversion for 17 years. Her prayers were finally answered when Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose in 387. Shortly after, while preparing to return to Africa with her son, she died in Ostia, Italy, having told Augustine that her life’s mission was complete. Her feast day is celebrated on August 27th, and she is considered a patron saint of mothers, wives, and those with difficult children.

Prayers & Devotions

Intercession of the Saints

Prayer to St. Monica

This “Prayer to St. Monica”, mother of St. Augustine, seeks her intercession for all mothers to draw their children closer to God, even those who have gone astray. Inspired by St. Monica’s persistent prayers for the conversion of her husband and son, the supplicant asks for the same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. They request St. Monica’s intercession for their own intentions and the grace to accept God’s will in all things.

Prayer to St. Monica

Patroness of Wayward Children & Difficult Marriages

Prayer Video – Prayer to St. Monica

Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son, not with threats, but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.

Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime, yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius, and your beloved son, Augustine; your prayers were answered.

Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea.

(mention your intention here)

Grant me the grace to accept His Will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Saint Monica, pray for us.